Display stand

ABSTRACT

A display stand for displaying hats having a plurality of rotatable sections which rotate about a central support wherein each section may comprise a plurality of downwardly sloped trays wherein the central support is fixed to a surrounding structure which is enclosed by panels and a door which may be lockable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to product storage and display standsand more particularly to a tiered, rotatable, and enclosed stand forappealingly displaying a plurality of hats, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Stands are commonly used to store and display collectibles, ascollectors have a need to safely and attractively present and preservetheir collections. The use of vertically oriented, rotatable stands toaccomplish this end is also known. Rotatable stands are well suited todisplay collections of hats because they offer an efficient use of spacewhile at the same time engaging the viewer in a more personal andtactile experience as they manipulate the stand.

In a similar situation, the presentation of the merchandise in a storeis a very important factor in the decision of a consumer to purchase aparticular item. While at the same time needing to present theirmerchandise in an attractive manner, stores are pressured to make thesepresentations as compact as possible so as to maximize the amount ofmerchandise they can place on the sales floor.

Existing stands in this category are generally non-rotatable, rotatablein whole, or rotatable in different parts independently. The rotation ofthe stand allows the user to view articles placed at different pointsaround the circumference of the stand without changing their position.This allows for the simultaneous use of the stand by multiple users orthe efficient use of an otherwise wasted portion of the sales floor orhome such as a corner or counter to display the articles on the stand.

These stands generally allow for the display of multiple levels ofarticles and vary in their presentation of the articles. Some presentthe articles individually or in groups, while others present them inbulk.

Stands of this type have also been adapted for use in displayingparticularly valuable articles such as watches or jewelry by surroundingthe stand with a clear, locked enclosure. A means for rotating thearticles displayed on the interior is generally located externally ifthe stand is of the rotating type.

These various combinations of functionality and presentation do notsatisfactorily address the particular problem of displaying hats,particularly baseball style hats, in a home or retail store setting.Stands developed in an attempt to satisfy this need have typically beenof the type using individual posts or clips to display the various hatsin a “tree” format. Multiple levels of posts or clips are fixed to thecentral vertical support and extend generally radially outwards from thecentral support. The entire body of posts or clips is either static orrotatable about the central vertical axis.

The stands developed previously to display hats are insufficient in manyrespects to fulfill all the possible needs of a vendor selling hats or acollector displaying their collection of hats. In a store environment,these stands require the constant attention of store employees to keepthe stands fully stocked. In a particularly brisk sales environment,eager consumers could quickly deplete the number of hats displayed onthe stand, and a partially stocked stand is a deterrent to furthersales. It is the goal of store employees to keep the displays in thestore appearing fully stocked at all times. Further, display standswhich are unenclosed pose problems such as consumers or viewersinadvertently knocking hats off of the display, dust collecting on thehats, and theft. Also, displays for hats have typically not allowed theindependent rotation of the various display levels, resulting inincreased wear in and failure of bearing supports, while also preventingthe user from easily rearranging the presentation of items on onedisplay level relative to another.

Accordingly, there is a need for a display stand which minimizes theattention required by store employees, provides for the attractive,safe, efficient, and dust-free display of hats, and is robust.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable displaystand, for use in displaying hats.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand whichstores multiple hats on a single support to keep the stand appearingfully stocked for as long as possible before restocking is needed.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide multiplelevels of hat supports which rotate independently of one another tominimize wear on the bearing surfaces.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an enclosurearound the stand to keep dust from accumulating on the hats andconsumers from knocking the hats off of the stand.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lockabledoor to the enclosure and external means to rotate the display toprevent theft or enhance the hats' appeal.

To these and other ends, the present invention broadly contemplates adisplay stand having a central support oriented vertically and held atthe bottom by an enclosed surrounding structure, around which one ormore sleeves may be stacked such that they are rotatable with respect tothe central axis, and removably attached to each may be several armswhich support a plurality of hats oriented generally radially outwardsfrom the central support and are generally downward sloping so as toinduce the hats to slide radially outwards from the central support, andeach may have a rail at their distal end and may have a rail on theirsides to prevent the hats from sliding off of the support or tray.

In one embodiment, a door is attached to the enclosure.

In another embodiment, removable panels form the sides of the enclosure.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each sleeve isindependently rotatable with respect to the other sleeves and thecentral axis.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the door islockable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display stand with the enclosurepanels and door attached according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of thedisplay stand with the enclosure panels and door attached according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of thedisplay stand with the enclosure panels and door attached according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a removably attachable tray componentaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the display standaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the display standaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the display standaccording to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the display standaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A display stand according to one embodiment of the present inventionwill be discussed with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-8. The displaystand 10 is shown having a base 12 and a central vertical support 14which is attached at its bottom 16 to the base 12 of the enclosure. Inone embodiment, the central support 14 is supported at both its top end18 and bottom end 16 by the top 20 and base 12 of the enclosure. In oneembodiment, the central support 14 is able to rotate the central axis.The top panel 20 and base 12 of the enclosure are connected to andsupported by the side walls 22 of the enclosure. In one embodiment, theside walls 22 consist of removable panels 24 and may be held in place byvertically oriented corner extrusions 26. A plurality of arms isattached to the central support 14 which extend generally radiallyoutward from the central support 14. These arms, which consist of hattrays 28, may be removable. The tray 28 may be fitted with short siderails 30 and/or an end rail 32 to prevent the hats 34 from sliding offof the tray 28.

In one embodiment, the arms are attached to one or more sleeves 36, 38,40 which are stacked vertically on the central support 14. The sleeve orsleeves 36, 38, 40 are rotationally adjustable about the central axisand the sleeves 36, 38, 40 are rotationally adjustable relative to oneanother. In one embodiment, the sleeve or sleeves 36, 38, 40 areprovided their rotational adjustability by the inclusion of frictionreducing devices 42 at the interface between the sleeve or sleeves 36,38, 40 and flanges 44 extending circumferentially outward from thecentral support 14 and at the top 18 and bottom 16 of the centralsupport 14.

In another embodiment, the central support 14 is comprised of severalsubparts, which are vertically stacked upon each other, and which arerotationally adjustable relative to the central axis and relative toeach other.

In another embodiment, the trays 28 are removable and installed onto thecentral support 14 by inserting the tabs 46 into a hole 48 in the sleevewall 50 whilst tilting the tray surface 52 to be lower at the tab end 54than at the radially distal end 56. In this embodiment, once inserted,the tray 28 is tilted down to its final position, with the radiallydistal end 56 of the tray lower than that of the end closest to thecentral support 54.

A door 58 may be movably attached to the side wall of the enclosure 22such that the rotational hinge 60 of the door 58 runs parallel to thecentral support 14. In one embodiment, a locking mechanism is attachedto the door 58 which keeps the door 58 shut until unlocked.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the featuresand embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth, but may be carriedout in other ways without departure from its spirit.

1. A display stand comprising: an enclosure having a top, a base, andsurrounding walls; a central support, which is attached to the base,oriented vertically along a central axis; one or more sleeves stackedaround the central support such that said one or more sleeves arerotatable with respect to the central axis; one or more arms connectedto said one or more sleeves such that each arm is oriented generallyradially outwards from the central support and such that each arm iscapable of supporting a plurality of hats.
 2. A display standcomprising: an enclosure having a top, a base, and surrounding walls; acentral support which has one or more independently rotatable sectionsand which is attached to the base, oriented vertically along a centralaxis, such that said one or more rotatable sections are rotatable withrespect to the central axis; one or more arms connected to said one ormore rotatable sections such that each arm is oriented generallyradially outwards from the central support and such that each arm iscapable of supporting a plurality of hats.
 3. The device of claim 1wherein at least one of said arms is removable.
 4. The device of claim 1wherein at least one of said arms is angled such that its connection tothe central support is higher than its radially distal end so as toinduce the hats to slide radially outwards from the central support. 5.The device of claim 1 wherein said sleeves are stacked on the centralsupport such that at least one of said sleeves may be rotated relativeto the enclosure and relative to at least one of the other sleeves. 6.The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said arms is a tray. 7.The device of claim 6 wherein the tray has rails on its sides.
 8. Thedevice of claim 6 wherein the tray has a rail at its distal end.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the enclosure contains a door.
 10. The deviceof claim 9 wherein the door is kept shut by a locking mechanism, untilunlocked.
 11. The device of claim 9 wherein there is an external deviceto rotate the display that does not require that the door be open. 12.The device of claim 1 wherein one or more removable panels form at leasta portion of the sides of the enclosure.
 13. The device of claim 12wherein at least one of the removable panels, when not removed, is heldin place by one or more vertically oriented corner extrusions.
 14. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the central support is able to rotate aboutthe central axis.
 15. The device of claim 1 wherein one or more of thesleeves are provided rotational adjustability by the inclusion of atleast one friction reducing device at the interface between the top orbottom of the sleeve and the bottom or top of the central support or aflange extending circumferentially outwards from the central support.16. The device of claim 3 wherein at least one of the removable arms isinstalled onto the sleeve by inserting a tab or tabs that are a part ofthe arm into a hole or holes in the sleeve wall, and, once inserted, bytilting the arm to its final position.